VH 12 on Auctionarms Last Week

[Bill Murphy]

A 1930 gun, 235,XXX with Remington style markings on bottom of receiver. PARKER marked in front of floorplate. Did one of us buy that unusual gun? Are there Remington codes on the barrels?

[Mark Ouellette]

Not me Bill but did you buy the redone 32" VH which sold on Auction Arms last night? The moniker looked something like wmph...?
http://buy.gunauction.com/10521866/parker-brothers-grade-vh-12-ga32-inch-f-fnice-gunmfd-1901-c-and-r

[Dean Romig]

If $1461.00 was the final bid I would say somebody got a nice VH at a very reasonable price.

It wouldn't surprise me if it turned out that Bill snagged that one... he does have a sweet tooth for DelGrego Parkers.

[Bill Murphy]

I think if that gun had been properly described as an early Del Grego restoration, it would have gone for more. I am hoping that the gun has not been used much since its trip to Del Grego. By the way, Larry Sr, used to like to checker the cheeks on low grade full restorations. I think I will find that there is not a through bolt repair under the cheek checkering. I'll tell you about it when it gets here. The VH from last week is a bit more interesting though, a Remington Parker with a 1930 serial number. Who is the lucky guy who bought that one? I don't think he paid too much either, $2400 for a Remington VH in clean condition.

[Dean Romig]

I think if that gun had been properly described as an early Del Grego restoration, it would have gone for more. I am hoping that the gun has not been used much since its trip to Del Grego.

I agree.

[Mark Ouellette]

Bill,

I was thinking on bidding on Sunday's VH 32" at the closing of the auction. Then what looked like you bid and I thought that I didn't want to get into a bidding war with another Parker guy.

At least the gun is in good hands...

Mark

[Bill Murphy]

I admit I may have paid more if the bidding had continued. You never can tell, though. The best strategy is to keep bidding even if your grandmother is bidding against you.

[Mark Ouellette]

Okay Grandpa Bill, you owe me $200 for not bidding that VH up to $2k! :)

Otherwise I'll accept a thank you from a gentleman.

Mark

[Bill Murphy]

I will appreciate your help when I examine the gun. I'll let you know if you should have kept bidding.

[Mike Shepherd]

Bill how did DelGrego do the case colors? Did he case harden or just case color? By his reputation I am sure it is done correctly. Just curious.

Thanks,

Mike

[Craig Parker]

I was the guy that pickup the 1930 VH on AA, will be going to get it tomorrow if all goes right. Hoping that its was a good buy but will enjoy it always, when in hand will take a better look at it. Craig

[Dean Romig]

Please show us some pictures when you have it.

[Bill Murphy]

Mike, in the seventies, when Del Grego case color looked like the color on the AA gun, Mr. Del Grego Sr. had a relationship with Remington and sent receivers and parts over to "The Arms" for coloring by the cyanide method, same as late Remington Parkers were done, although a bit different in appearance. I don't know how long this relationship with Remington lasted. The Parker Story may give some information about Remington Parker finish. To answer your question, "No, Del Grego did not use the original Parker Brothers method." However, rumor has it that today, Del Grego will send your gun out for bone charcoal case hardening if you request it. I don't know what other methods they now use or who actually does it. They now have a website which may help to answer some of our questions.

[Mike Shepherd]

Bill thank you very much.

Best,

Mike

[Bill Murphy]

Craig, as I implied earlier, your gun is very unusual because it is a Remington configuration gun serial numbered to indicate manufacture four years before Remington bought Parker Brothers. We would like to hear more about the interior markings on your gun when you get it, especially Remington codes.

[Craig Parker]

Headed over after lunch to pick it up and will let ya'll know. I'm new to Parker's and would like any input on it. Thanks Craig

[Craig Parker]

Bill, got it picked up and there are no other marks on the gun, pictures shown on site show all markings. I guess its time to letter it and find out what I can. Thanks Craig

[Bill Murphy]

Craig, let us know what your letter says. By the way, I have not yet received the Del Grego gun, but it should be here soon.

[Bill Murphy]

I received the Del Grego 32", #2 frame, 1900 VH a couple of days ago. It is outrageous. I doesn't seem to have been in the field since Larry Sr. restored it in the seventies (my opinion). There are a couple of tiny nicks in the stock and barrel finish and one side of the receiver has some minor surface tarnish. Otherwise it is new. The stock finish is standard Del Grego spray with no oil encroachment at edges. It is a light gun at 7 pounds, 8 ounces, with a slim grip and 4-7 marked barrels with twin ivory sights. It has the long lever and the early tiny barrel legend letters. Del Grego did not have original buttplates with widow's peak, so they used a new late vintage #2 style plate and filled the peak with bedding compound and finished with Remington round head screws. The bores are spotless, .734 with .040 chokes in both barrels. You win some, you lose some.

[Richard Flanders]

Sounds like a hell of a buy Bill! As for the other Parker discussed, my 26" SG VH12 is a 1936 gun and is very nice. Unusually blonde stock of very nice wood. I'd get another of that generation in a heartbeat. It's my best shooter of all my Parkers. Looking forward to pics of the gun Craig got.

[David Holes]

Richard, how is that gun choked? I shoot a remington skeet 16 that is open choked and I agree it is my best sporting clays gun yet.

[Craig Parker]

I have been out of town on a job for awhile, like a post in this forum. I also was release because of a buy-out with my job. Kicked the tires with the new group and took the mad money. Took 3mo off and back to the grind now. All said I will post some pic's when this tour over, man I'm hooked and checking this forum just about twice a day for the wealth of info that is found here. Great job guys, Thanks

[Kenny Graft]

I have a early PHE-16 Delgrego...its superb, looks like a new parker except for the cynide colors in place of true case colors. I also have a GHE done in the past 10 years that had full restoration and new wood by a prevouse owner....The wood to metal at the head of the stock has some kind of brown goo filler due to poor fit? The job total was 4K...You would think it would be perfect like original would have been...other than this imperfection the rest of the job is excl. I still own them both.... The 16 ga is the jewel!

[Richard Flanders]

Holeshot: Originally my 26" gun was choked F/F, which seems odd for a 26" but I just got a 2-bble set VH12, 26" and 30" and both sets are F/F... go figure. I.....unfortunately.... had the wrong smith open my chokes to Cyl/IC and, despite being told specifically to NOT do it, he made the muzzles so thin they now get dented in a strong wind. Sad and a lesson learned. It also has a silvers like pad that has a thin leather cover on the butt. I assume it's original but don't really know.

[Austin W Hogan]

Richard; the "default" choke on 1 1/2 frame VH appears to be M & F. The earlier 2 frame VH default may have been F&F. That makes sense, because the speculated customer could open a F&F, but could not glue in more choke.

Best, Austin

[Richard Flanders]

Mine is a 1-1/2 frame Austin.

[Austin W Hogan]

A customer could order a VH or a grade 0 or 1 hammergun, with specified barrel length, choke, and stock dimensions. Many distributor orders called for "suites" of guns by gauge,weight, and length. These bulk orders tend to be F & F because that was the favorite choke of the time, and adjustable to the customer's wishes if necessary.

Best, Austin

[Richard Flanders]

Thanks Austin. I always figured there must be some reason for a short full choked gun. Somehow a 26" F/F gun just seems wrong; Maybe I should try one on ducks this coming weekend!

[Dean Romig]

I think I would pattern it at 40 yards and get to know the POI too.

[Kenny Graft]

I have a DH-16 26" F/F .028 and .029, its O frame and light at 5lbs-15oz short chambers.....I may open the right barrel to say .010 for late season grouse hunting...(-:

[Craig Parker]

Well made it home and letter had arrived, thought I'll share and ask for input about thoughts on this Parker VH. Did not understand the code marks being new, Also took pic's that shed some light on the Remington history with letter. Thanks Craig

[Richard Flanders]

I'd say you did very well. I have one very similar but with 26" bbls and straight grip. Yours has excellent colors, great screws and doesn't look abused from what I can see.

[Bill Murphy]

It looks like your gun must have been given a new receiver at some time after the takeover by Remington, probably after the gun was returned for credit. 1931 was way too early for the Parker marking on the bottom. What a beautiful gun.

[Richard Flanders]

When did those markings start Bill? My 239xxx S/N gun from 1936 is marked that way also, which makes sense since it's post '34.

[Bill Murphy]

Richard, I guess the approximate dates for the Parker marking of receivers is explained in The Parker Story, but I would assume it started with the first receivers finished under Remington ownership of Parker Brothers.